The food grain production of India for the 2009-10 seasons is estimated to decline by 7.51%. The fall in summer output, owing to the worst drought in 30 years, is seen as the main reason for this decline. According the second advance food grains estimate released by the government on Friday, the country's food grains output is estimated at 216.85 million tons in the 2009-10 season while in 2008-09 season it was reported 234.47 million tons.

In the 2009-10 season the production of rice is estimated to be lower at 87.56 million tons, as against 99.18 million tons in the 2008-09 season. Production of wheat is projected at 80.28 million tons, as compared with 80.68 million tons in 2008-09. The total coarse cereals output is estimated to decline to 34.27 million tons from 40.03 million tons in the same period last year. The pulses output is estimated to be slightly better at 14.74 million tons in the current year as against 14.57 million tons in 2008-09 season. Oilseeds production is estimated at 26.32 million tons as against 27.71 million tons in 2008-09.

The sugarcane production is estimated to be 251.26 million tons as against 285.02 million tons in2008-09.

"Due to deficient and erratic distribution of rainfall during the last monsoon season, production of kharif crops, particularly of rice, coarse cereals and sugarcane had been affected adversely," Government said in a statement.